IN MEMORIAM
Robert W. Ranger, 79; Helped
Found Bank Of Cooperstown
WEST WINFIELD – Robert W. Ranger, 79, a member of the Bank of Cooperstown’s founding Board of Directors, died Saturday evening, Feb. 18, 2017, at Bassett Hospital following a brief illness.
Bob was born June 15, 1937, in Corning to Robert W. and Freida (Spreitzer) Ranger. He was raised in Painted Post and graduated from high school there. He received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s from Rutgers.
In December 1978, he married Marjorie Brooks, a union of almost 40 years. He once said, “between the two of us we can surmount any obstacle – we are a team.”
For over 35 years, Bob was with Oneida National Bank and its successor banks. After retiring from Fleet Bank as regional president, he became president of the Financial Institutions Bank in Warsaw. He then returned to West Winfield, and with a group of investors formed the Bank of Cooperstown, which also has offices in Oneonta and Geneva. He was named the bank’s first director emeritus on retiring in 2016.
Bob also served as the chairman of the ABA Ag Bankers Committee in Washington D.C., as well as many other ag-related committees locally. He was a member of the local Rotary, and served on the Mount Markham Central school board and the Herkimer County BOCES board for over 25 years.
Bob was a truly remarkable man. His passion was for his family and he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved to hunt and fish, and his home was surrounded by wildlife that he dearly loved to watch and for which he provided sanctuary.
In addition to his wife, Marjorie Brooks Ranger of West Winfield, he is survived by his children, Lisa Doyle of Woodbridge, Va., Todd M. Ranger of Camden, Kelley Tripple (Michael Dougherty) of Bridgewater and Luanne T. Brooks of West Exeter; his grandchildren, Chad Bailey, Ryan Bailey, Jordan Doyle and Victoria Doyle, all of Woodbridge, Va., Jacob Tripple (Bree Palmer) and Andrew Tripple, both of West Winfield, Melissa Gregory and her husband Jay of Mount Vision and Matthew Brooks of West Exeter; and his great-grandchildren, Grant and Grace Gregory, Michael Bailey and Logan Bailey. He is further survived by his siblings, Phyllis Stowell of Painted Post and Donald Ranger of Mount Wolf, Pa., as well as his special family, Sara, Gil, Aaden and Abel Sanchez.
In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by a sister, Carol Ann Smith and his step-son, John G. Brooks.
At Bob’s request, there will be a private service of remembrance for his immediate family at their convenience.
In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family requests that you make a gift in his memory to your favorite charity.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
